An Ilkley-based businessman has told how he was deported from America by immigration officials after telling them he planned to take flying lessons during his holiday.

Bernard Burns, managing director of Keighley-based Silentnight Furniture, was ordered to leave Florida just four hours after landing at Orlando International Airport.

Mr Burns, 45, of Wheatley Road, Ilkley, had booked a three-week holiday worth more than £1,000 in the sunshine state which included flying lessons with a leading company aimed at European travellers.

The firm informed Mr Burns that no visa was required but American immigration officials told him that anti-terrorist measures had been introduced requiring him to have a visa if he wanted to fly the planes.

With that, Mr Burns was escorted to a high-security interview room and then put on the next plane home.

He was back at Manchester Airport within 36 hours of departing.

Mr Burns is now spending the remaining weeks of his three-week holiday learning to fly at Teeside Airport.

On Tuesday a furious Mr Burns told how officials had only discovered his plans after he was asked what he was most looking forward to about his trip.

"I said that my visit was for pleasure but when I mentioned I was going to learn to fly, you could just see the panic in her face," he said.

"She called her supervisor over and I was shoved into a little room.

" I quickly realised that I was going to be barred from the country.

"I even asked if I could stay and visit Disney, since I booked a three week holiday, but they refused and said I was going to be deported."

Mr Burns demanded to contact the British Consul but received no joy, as he was told that the telephone lines were down for the flying school, and could not even contact his wife.

He has written to the Government and his MP Ann Cryer about what happened.

"If I said I was just going on holiday I would have been fine," he said.

"It is an absolutely ridiculous situation, and it has taken more than six months of so-called careful consideration to come up with this policy.

"This has cost me more than £1,000 in total, and it is not easy for me to take a three-week holiday from work."

Despite the setback, Mr Burns has now successfully flown solo around Teesside.

"Since I had booked time off work, I am trying to make up for the disappointment," he added.